Golfers Zhang and Liang to compete in Macao Open

Chinese golfers Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong will join defending champion Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the 2017 Macao Golf Open that will take place at the Macau Golf & Country Club from Oct. 19 to 22, announced the organizers last week.

Zhang is a two-time winner of the Macao Open (2001 and 2002) and the only player ever to defend his title in the tournament’s 18-year history.

Zhang who is playing regularly on the European Senior Tour now, has recorded an impressive run of results this summer, which includes three top 15 finishes.

“I am delighted and honored to play at the Macao Open once again. This tournament started a few years after I turned professional and it played a big part in the development of my professional career.” said Zhang, who win on both the European Tour and the European Senior Tour, following respective victories at 2003 Caltex Masters and 2016 Wales Senior Open.

Liang has been spending the majority of his time on the Asian and Japan Tours in recent years. An Order-of-Merit winner on both tours, and a winner on the European Tour, Liang is the only player from China to have competed in all four Majors, with his best showing a tied-eighth finish at the PGA Championship in 2010.

Liang has competed in Macau for the past four years and his best showing came in his debut year in 2013 when he finished in tied-11th place. “I am very much looking forward to returning to play at the Macao Open. The event very much feels like a home event to me given its proximity to my home town, and the friendliness of all the staff and volunteers there,” Liang commented. “The playing field in Macau is ways of top quality and I enjoy competing there very much. The tournament is a regular on my schedule now, and I will look to another good run there this time round,” he added.

The four-day tournament will continue to be jointly organised by Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government and the Golf Association of Macau. It is sanctioned by the Asian Tour, and promoted by IMG.   MDT/Xinhua